Transporting arrangements for leather and similar materials



June 1, 1965 D. BRAUN 3,186,195

TRANSPORTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR LEATHER AND SIMILAR MATERIALS Filed May31, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INVENTOR. pew 5m AA W June 1, 1965 D. BRAUN 3,186,1 5

' I'RANSPORTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR LEATHER AND SIMILAR MATERIALS Filed May31, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

INVENTOR. fi/W fi raw/pm June 1, 1965 D. BRAUN 3,186,195

TRANSPORTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR LEATHER AND SIMILAR MATERIA s' Filed May61, 1965 a sneets-sieet '5 INVENTOR. flaw flywum United States Patent3,186,195 TRANSPORTING AANGEMENTS FOR LEATHER AND SIMILAR MATERIALSDieter Braun, Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, Germany, assignor toFortuna-Werke Spezialrnaschinenfabrik A.G., Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt,Germany Filed May 31, 1963, Ser. No. 284,580 Claims priority,application Germany, Dec. 16, 1959, F 30,093 32 Claims. (Cl. 69-40) Thepresent application is a continuation-in-part application of mycopending application Serial No. 75,512, filed December 13, 1960, andentitled Transporting Arrangement for Leather and Similar Materials,which now is abandoned.

The present invention relates to transporting arrangements fortransporting leather and similar materials such as felt or fabric, andmore particularly to transporting arrangements for transporting leathertoward a cutting tool by which the leather is split.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a transportingarrangement which is capable of reliably transporting leather, felt, orsimilar workpieces of itregular thickness in a continuous, andtrouble-free movement toward a tool, such as a splitting cutting tool bywhich the workpiece is split into two layers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a transportingarrangement for sheets consisting of leather, felt, or similar materialsby which the sheet is uniformly transported at high speed, and urgedwith a uniform great force against a splitting knife.

With these objects in view, one embodiment of the present inventioncomprises an abutment member, preferably a roller, a plurality of ringscooperating with the abutment roller to press a workpiece against thesame, an inner drive roll passing through the rings, an outer driveroll, engaging the outer surfaces of the rings, and means holding theinner drive roll against the inner surfaces of the rings, and aplurality of biasing means preferably spring-loaded biasing rollersengaging each of the rings for urging the rings toward the abutmentroller.

In this manner, a leather sheet is transported between the abutmentroller and the rings toward a splitting knife and pressed against theedge of the same uniformly along the entire width of the sheet whichextends in axial direction of the rings and abutment roller,irrespective of irregularities in the thickness of the leather sheetsince the rings are free to yield independently of each other.

The outer drive roll is mounted for rotation on a stationary part of themachine, whereas the inner drive roll is mounted on a movable supportwhich is either urged by a spring to move in such a direction that theinner drive roll presses the rings against the outer drive roll, or isadjustable for positioning the inner drive roll.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the axis of the outerdrive roll is located between the plane of movement of the axis of theinner drive roll and the working plane in which the workpiece moves.

Since the rings are not mounted on a fixed shaft, it is preferred thatthe biasing rollers, the outer drive roll, and the abutment roller forman imaginary triangular prism in whose area the common axis of thealigned rings is located.

According to one embodiment the inner surfaces of the rings are infrictional engagement with the inner drive roll, so that it isadvantageous to provide the inner surface of each ring with a centralprojecting annular ridge in frictional engagement with the outer surfaceof the inner drive roll.

The inner and outer drive rolls are preferably enveloped by a resilienttubular cover in order to obtain sufficient friction between the driverolls and the rings.

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Preferably, both drive rolls are driven, so that the rings may bepressed by a workpiece into a position in which the inner surfacesthereof are not engaged by the inner drive roll, while the rings arestill rotated by the outer drive roll.

In another embodiment, the inner surfaces of the rings are toothed andin meshing engagement with a toothed outer surface of the inner driveroller.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the transportingarrangement of the present invention as provided in a machine forsplitting leather sheets;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1taken on line IIII in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a transportingarrangement according to a modified embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken on line IVIV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating a detail of the embodiment ofFIG. 3 on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view corresponding to FIG. 5 and illustratinganother operational position.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, aworktable 12 defines a working plane 12a along which a workpiece in theform of a sheet 1 is moved into the bight between a rotary abutmentroller 2, and a plurality of aligned circular rings 3 so that theworkpiece 1 is transported toward a splitting cutting tool 6 which ispreferably a band guided for movement in axial direction of the abutmentroller 2 between a pair of guide members 4 and 5.

A set of levers 16 is mounted on a shaft 15 on a support 13, each leverbeing connected by a spring 18 to the support 13, and biased by therespective spring to turn in counter-clockwise direction as viewed inFIG. 1. If no sheet 1 is located between rings 3 and abutment roller 2,levers 16 are turned by springs 18 to a position abutting an abutmentface 19 On support 13. A biasing roller 17 is mounted at the end of eachlever 16, and the biasing rollers 17 are spaced from each other so thateach biasing roller 17 is in rolling engagement with a central portionof the outer periphery of one of the rings 3 for urging the respectivering 3 toward the abutment roller 2.

An outer drive roll 7 is mounted in fixed hearings on support 13 forrotary movement about its axis 20, and is driven in a conventionalmanner, for example by an electric motor. Thu-s, rings 3 are confinedbetween drive roll 7, abutment roller 2 and workpiece and the respectivebiasing rollers 17. Since drive roll 7 and abutment roller 2 arecylindrical, the centers of all circular rings 3 are aligned along acommon axis if the workpiece is of uniform thickness, or if levers 16abut on abutment face 19. In this terminal position, the common axis ofrings 3 and the axis of drive roll 7 are equidistant from the workingplane defined by work table 12. A plane 23 passing through the axis ofrotation 20 of drive roll 7 to the common axis of rings 3, defines witha plane 26 passing through the axis of the biasing rollers 17 to thecommon axis of the rings 3, an angle 22 which is an obtuse angle.

The lines of engagement between the rings 3 on one hand, and drive roll7, the workpiece l, and biasing rollers 17 on the other hand, define animaginary triangular prism in whose area the common axes of rings 3 islocated. In this manner, rings 3 are confined by the workpiece 1 and m 3the abutment roller 2, the drive roll 7, and biasing rollers 17 in adetermined position, although they may, of course, be displaced by theworkpiece 1, with biasing rollers 17 and levers 16 resiliently yielding.

An inner drive roll 8 passes through the rings and is supported by meansof stud shafts in bearings of a pair of arms of a movable support 27which is guided in a supporting part 9 for movement in a plane parallelto the working plane 12a defined by the top face of support table 12.Consequently, the axis of drive roll 8 moves along a plane parallel tothe working plane 12a when su-pport 27 is displaced. This plane issubstantially parallel to plane 23 which is defined by the axis of driveroll 7 and the common axis of the rings 3, depending on the amount ofdisplacement of rings 3 by the workpiece 1. Plane 23 is located betweenthe working plane and the plane of movement of the axis of the innerdrive roll 8, and actually spaced a small distance 11 from this plane ofmovement. In other words the axis of the inner drive roll 8 is locatedlower than the axis 20 of the outer drive roll 7 so that the outerperipheries of drive rolls 7 and 8 act on different circumferentiallyspaced portions of rings 3 so that rings 3 are confined by drive roll 8in a position in which the outer peripheral surf-aces thereof arelocated in the working plane 12a. The pressure of spring 18 acting onmovable support 27 produces sufficient friction between rings 3 anddrive rolls 7 and 8 to effect rotation of the rings 3 and transport ofworkpiece 1. Since spring acts in a direction substantially parallel tothe working plane, the pressure between the abutment roller 2 and rings3 is produce-d by the biasing rollers 17, which mainly perform thefunction of urging rings 3 against the workpiece.

If any one of the rings 3 is downwardly pressed by an irregular part ofworkpiece 1, the respective ring 3 moves relative to the other rings anddisplaces the respective biasing roller 7 together with lever 16. Duringsuch movement, the respective ring 3 rolls on the peripheral surface ofdrive roll 7 so that its center moves along a circle having its centerin axis 20. v A ring 3, thus displaced by an irregularity of theworkpiece 1, may momentarily release the outer peripheral surface ofdrive roll 8, while tensioning the respective assoc'iated spring 18 to agreater extent, resulting in an increased pressure between therespective biasing roller 17 and the displaced ring 3. Such increasedpressure not only urges the respective ring 3 to return to its normalposition, but also increases the pressure between the respective ring 3and the drive roll 7 so that the ring continues to rotate driven bydrive roll 7. To obtain such increased frictional pressure, the force ofthe biasing rollers 17 acts in the direction of plane 26, andconsequently has a component in direction of plane 23 which supplementsthe action of the pressure produced by spring 10. This effect is due tothe fact that the angle 22 between planes 23 and 26 is an obtuse angle.To improve the frictional engagement between the drive rolls 7, 8 andthe rings 3, each drive roll is covered by tubular elastic cover 21.Preferably, the inner peripheral surfaces 25 of each ring 3 haveinwardly projecting ridges 24 which normally engage the elastic tubularcover 21 of drive roll 8 which results in less wear on the tubular cover21 and in better guidance of rings 3 since the central annular ridges 24prevent axial movement of rings 3 by slightly depressing the surface ofthe resilient tubular cover 21 of drive roll 8.

At the beginning of an operation, the biasing means 18, 16, 17 urge allrings 3 into engagement with drive roll 7 and drive roll 8 so that theouter peripheral surfaces of rings 3 are located slightly above the topsurface 12a of table 12 while levers abut face 19. Drive rolls '7 and 8are rotated by a common drive motor, not shown, and effect rotation ofall rings 3 by frictional engagement. A component of the force of thebiasing means 17, and

the force of the biasing means 10 urges drive roll 8 against the innersurfaces of rings 3.

When a workpiece, for example a leather sheet 1 is moved in the workingplane 12a along the top of table 12 into the bight between abutmentroller 2 and rings 3, rings 3 are displaced so that the biasing rollers17 are also displaced. Drive roll 8 remains in engagement with the innersurfaces of rings 3 due to the action of biasing means 10, or ismomentarily separated from the ring 3 in which event the pressure of thebiasing means 18, 16, 17 is sufficient to urge the rings against thedrive roll 7 so that the rings are driven by the same. The workpiece 1is transported toward the cutting band 6 which moves in axial directionof roller 2 to split the workpiece into two layers. When one of therings 3 encounters a thicker part of the workpiece 1, it is individuallydisplaced relative to the other rings 3 and turns the respectivecorrelated lever 16 in clockwise direction against the action of therespective spring 18. The pressure of springs 18 and It; restores thenormal position of the displaced ring after the irregularity of theworkpiece has passed beyond the line of engagement with the respectivering 3.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 operates on the sameprinciple as described with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and2. Corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference numerals, asmodified elements are indicated by primed reference numerals.

A plurality of rings 3 are located between the abutment roller 2, theouter drive roller 7, and the biasing rollers 17. A plane 26 passingthrough the line of engagement between biasing rollers 17 to the axis ofrings 3' defines an obtuse angle 22 with a plane 23 extending from theaxis 28 of the outer drive roller 7 to the axis of rings 3.

The inner drive roller 8' has an outer toothed surface with teeth 28,and each ring 3' has an inner toothed surface with teeth 39, as bestseen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The diameter of the inner surfaces of rings 3' issubstantially greater than the diameter of the outer surface of theinner drive roller 8, so that rings 3' can move relative to the innerdrive roller 8 when displaced by an irregularity of the workpiece 1.Such movement is opposed by the biased rollers 17 which, however, permiteach of the rings to perform an independent movement irrespective of thepositions of the other rings 3 which are engaged by a smooth part of theworkpiece 1. The inner drive roll 8' is mounted by means of stud shaftsin bearings of a pair of arms of a movable support 27' which is guidedin a supporting guideway 49 for movement in a plane parallel to theworking plane 12a so that the axis of drive roll 8' moves in a planewhich is substantially parallel to plane 23 defined by the axis of driveroll 7 and the common axis of the rings 3, depending upon the amount ofdisplacement of rings 3' by the workpiece 1.

The support portion 9' is formed with a bore in which an adjusting screw41 is mounted for turning movement. The threaded portion of adjustmentscrew 41 is threaded into a corresponding threaded bore 40 in support 27so that by turning adjustment screw 41, the inner drive roll 8' isdisplaced parallel to the working plane 12a. A nut 45 secures theadjusting means in the properly adjusted position in which the teeth 28and 30 are in meshing engagement, while still permitting a movement ofthe rings 3'.

When one of the rings 3 is displaced by an irregularity of the workpiecel. and urged to move downward, it rolls on the outer drive roll 7, whileits axis moves along a circle about the axis 29 of the outer drive roll7, while the distance between-the axes of the inner drive roll 8' andthe respective ring 3' is varied.

Due to the fact that the angle 22 between plane 23 and plane 26 isgreater than one component of the pressure exerted by biasing rollers 17on rings 3 urges rings 3' against the outer drive roller 7, whereas theother component urges rings 3' against the workpiece and abutment roller2. Consequently, each displaced ring 3' is rapidly returned to itsnormal working position when the S irregularity of the workpiece haspassed beyond the line of engagement between the respective ring 3' andthe abutment roller 2.

The gear teeth 28 of the inner drive roll 8', and gear teeth 30 of rings3' are designed and constructed in a specific manner in order to permitthe independent displacement of each ring 3 without interrupting themeshing engagement between teeth 28 and 30.

As shown in FIGS. and 6, drive roll 8' is adjusted by the adjustmentmeans 44 so that in the position of FIG. 5, one tooth 28 is locatedbetween two adjacent teeth 39 of a ring 3 without touching the same,while two adjacent teeth 28a engage the corresponding teeth 30 alongflanks 29.

As shown in FIG. 6, one tooth Fall of a ring 3' is lo cated between twoadjacent teeth 28 spaced from the same, while adjacent teeth 30 engagethe flanks of corresponding teeth 28a at 31. The distances indicated at32, 33, and 34 are obtained by suitably designing the gears 28 and 30,and permit a radial displacement of the inner drive roll 8' relative tothe rings 3 without disturbing the meshing engagement. The meshingengagement may be improved by slightly rounding off the edges of thetips of the teeth.

In accordance with the present invention, the toothed surfaces of driveroll 8' and rings 3', are made up of gear teeth 28 and 30 which have asmall circular pitch. In order to maintain the teeth in meshingengagement even when ring 3 is displaced, the profile of the gear teethof rings 3 is modified by outwardly displacing the profile center ofeach tooth with respect to the pitch circle, and by reducing theaddendum.

A circular pitch greater than 1, resulting in a smaller number of teethwould provide sufficient depth of the teeth to assure meshing engagementafter displacement of the ring 3', but the difference between thenumbers of the teeth would be too small, so that a radial displacementnecessary for adjustment of the position of the drive roll, could not beachieved in the desired manner. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention, the inner drive roll 8 has between 4 and 9 teeth less thanthe inner surface of the rings 3'.

A smaller circular pitch than 0.5 would provide a suflicient number ofteeth, but the depth of the teeth would be too small, so that adisplacement in radial direction would cause disengagement of the teeth.

In the preferred range of circular pitch, the difference between thenumbers of the teeth is between 4 and 9, and the profile of the teethmay be corrected as explained above with reference to FIG. 5 so that onetooth 28 is spaced from the adjacent teeth 30.

It is preferred to make the circular pitch of teeth 28 of inner driveroll 8' somewhat smaller than the circular pitch of the teeth 3%) ofrings 3'. During operation with out load, the difference between thecircular pitches is hardly noticeable, since the rings are yieldablysupported by biasing rollers 17. However, when the axes of rotationapproach each other, as occurs during radial displacement when one ofthe rings 3' is under a specific load caused by the workpiece, a meshingengagement is maintained even if the relative displacement between theteeth corresponds to the addendum, that is the distance between thepitch circle and the outermost tips of the gear teeth.

The modified embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6 has theadvantage that the transmission of force from the drive roll 8 to therings 3 is positive, and does not depend on friction, as is the case inthe embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. When thick, smooth and hard workpiecesare inserted into the machine, the pressure between the drive roll 8 andthe rings 3 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 must be very high toassure the transport of the workpiece. At such a high pressure, thedrive roll 8, which has a substantial length, may be slightly bent, sothat the pressure is only maintained for some of the rings 3, permittingother rings 3 to slip on 6 the outer surface .of drive roll 8 of theembodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

This disadvantage is entirely overcome by the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and4 in which the driving force transmitted from the drive roller 8 to therings 3' is practically unlimited, and corresponds to the torque of themotor driving drive roll 8. However, as explained above, the gears 28and 36 must be constructed in accordance with the present invention topermit the displacement of the rings 3 by uneven projecting portions ofthe workpiece 1.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types oftransporting arrangements differing from the types described above,

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in atransporting arrangement for transporting leather sheets toward asplitting tool, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown,since various modifications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit .of the present invention.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this. inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutmentroller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposedopposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece; a firstinner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diametersmaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a second outer drive rolladjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, at least one ofsaid drive rolls being driven to rotate; first biasing means for urgingsaid first drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said firstdrive roll engages the innersurfaces of said rings and urges the sameagainst said second drive roll whereby said rings r0- tate; and aplurality of second biasing means for respec tively urging said ringstoward said abutment roller whereby a workpiece between said abutmentroller and said rings is transported while each ring is capable ofyielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

2. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutmentroller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposedopposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece, said ringshaving a common axis; a first inner drive roll passing through saidrings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter ofsaid rings; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheralsurfaces of said rings, at least one of said drive rolls being driven torotate; first biasing means for urging said first drive roll toward saidsecond drive roll so that said first drive roll engages the innersurfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive rollwhereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing meansengaging said rings along an axially extending line of engagement forrespectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller, 2. planeextending through said line of engagement to said common axis definingan obtuse angle with another plane extending through the axis of saidsecond drive roll to said common axis, whereby a workpiece between saidabutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capableof yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

3. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutmentroller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposedopposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece, said ringshaving a common axis; a first inner drive roll passing through saidrings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter ofsaid rings; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheralsurfaces of said rings, at least one of said drive rolls being driven torotate; first biasing means for urging said first drive roll toward saidsecond drive roll so that said first drive roll engages the innersurfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive rollto engage the same along a first line of engagement whereby said ringsrotate; and a plurality of second biasing means engaging said ringsalong an axially extending second line of engagement for respectivelyurging said rings toward said abutment roller, a plane extending throughsaid second line of engagement to said common axis defining an obtuseangle with another plane extending through the axis of said second driveroll to said common axis, the lines of engagement of said rings with aworkpiece, second biasing means, and second drive roll defining animaginary triangular prism in whose area said common axis of said ringsis located whereby a wor piece between said abutment roller and saidrings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding toirregularities of said workpiece.

4. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 3 wherein each ofsaid rings is capable of being displaced by a workpiece against theaction of said second biasing means into a position in which said firstdrive roll is spaced from the inner surfaces of said rings, said secondroll being driven to rotate said rings in said displaced position.

5. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 4 including meansfor guiding said first biasing means to move in a direction transverseto the direction of the displacement of said rings by the workpiece sothat in said displaced position substantially only said second biasingmeans are effective to urge said rings against the workpiece and saidabutment roller.

6. A transporting and cutting arrangement comprising, in combination, anabutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfacesdisposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece; awork table for guiding a workpiece in a working plane into the bight.between said abutment roller and said rings; a tool located in saidworking plane to act on a workpiece transported by said abutment rollerand said rings; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings andhaving an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings;a movable support rotatably supporting said first drive roll formovement with the axis thereof moving in a plane parallel to saidworking plane; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheralsurfaces of said rings, at least one of said drive rolls being driven torotate; first biasing means operatively connected to said movablesupport for urging said first drive roll toward said second drive rollso that said first drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said ringsand urges the same against said second drive roll whereby said ringsrotate; and a plurality of second biasing means for respectively urgingsaid rings toward said abutment roller whereby a workpiece between saidabutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capableof yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

7. A transporting and cutting arrangement comprising, in combination, anabutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfacesdisposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece; awork table for guiding a workpiece in a working plane into the bightbetween said abutment roller and said rings; a tool located in saidworking plane to act on a workpiece trans ported by said abutment rollerand said rings; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings andhaving an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings;a movable support rotatably supporting said first drive roll formovement with the axis thereof moving in a plane parallel to saidworking plane; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheralsurfaces of said rings, and having an axis located between said workingplane and said plane of movement of said axis of said first drive roll,at least one of said drive rolls being driven to rotate; first biasingmeans operatively connected to said movable support for urging saidfirst drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said first driveroll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same againstsaid second drive roll whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality ofsecond biasing means for respectively urging said rings toward saidabutment roller and into engagement with said first and second driverolls in a position in which said working plane is tangential to theouter peripheral surfaces of said rings whereby a workpiece between saidabutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capableof yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

3. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutmentroller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposedopposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece; a firstinner drive roll pass ing through said rings and having an outerdiameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a second outerdrive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, saiddrive rolls being both driven to rotate in opposite directions ofrotation; first biasing means for urging said first drive roll towardsaid second drive roll so that said first drive roll engages the innersurfaces of said rings and urges the same against said second drive rollwhereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means forrespectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller whereby aworkpiece between said abutment roller and said rings is transportedwhile each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of saidworkpiece.

9. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutmentroller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposedopposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece; a firstinner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diametersmaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a second outer drive rolladjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, at least one ofsaid drive rolls being driven to rotate; first biasing means for urgingsaid first drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said firstdrive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the sameagainst said second drive roll whereby said rings rotate; and aplurality of second biasing means, each second biasing means including aspring-loaded roller, said biasing rollers engaging, respectively, theouter peripheral surfaces of said rings for respectively urging saidrings toward said abutment roller whereby a workpiece between saidabutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring is capableof yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

10. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 9 wherein each ofsaid second biasing means includes a pivotally mounted lever, and aspring acting on said lever to turn the same in one direction so that aportion of said lever moves toward the outer periphery of one of said rrings; and wherein said biasing rollers are respectively inounted forturning movement on said portions of said evers.

11. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutmentroller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposedopposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece; a firstinner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diametersmaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a second outer drive rolladjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, each of saiddrive rolls having an elastic tubular cover on the outer peripherythereof, said drive rolls being both driven to rotate in oppositedirections of rotation; first biasing means for urging said first driveroll toward said second drive roll so that said first drive roll engagesthe inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same against said seconddrive roll whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasingmeans for respectively urging said rings toward said abutment rollerwhereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and said rings istransported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities ofsaid workpiece.

12. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutmentroller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposedopposite said abutment roller for transporting a workpiece, and innerannular surfaces having central annular inwardly projecting smoothridges; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings and havingan outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings, saidfirst drive roll having a smooth outer surface adapted to frictionallyengage said annular smooth ridges; a second outer drive roll adjacentsaid outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, at least one of said driverolls being driven to rotate; first biasing means for urging said firstdrive roll toward said second drive roll so that said first drive rollengages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same against saidsecond drive roll whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of secondbiasing means for respectively urging said rings toward said abutmentroller whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and said ringsis transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularitiesof said workpiece.

13. A transporting and cutting arrangement comprising, in combination,an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheralsurfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting aworkpiece, 'and inner annular surf-aces having central annular inwardlyprojecting smooth ridges; a cutting tool for cutting a workpiecetransported between said abutment roller and said rings; a first innerdrive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diametersmaller than the inner diameter of said rings, said first drive rollhaving a smooth outer surface adapted to frictionally engage saidannular smooth ridges; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outerperipheral surfaces of said rings, each of said drive rolls having anelastic tubular cover on the outer periphery thereof, said drive rollsbeing both driven to rotate in opposite directions of rotation; firstbiasing means for urging said first drive roll toward said second driverol'l so that said first drive roll engages the inner surfaces of saidrings and urges the same against said second drive roll whereby saidrings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means, each secondbiasing means including a spring-loaded roller, said biasing rollersengaging, respectively, the outer peripheral surfaces of said rings forrespectively, the outer peripheral surfaces of said rings forrespectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller whereby aworkpiece between said abutment roller and said rings is transportedwhile each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of saidworkpiece.

14. A transporting and cutting arrangement comprising, in combination,an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheralsurfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting aworkpiece; a work table for guiding a workpiece in a working plane intothe bight between said abutment roller and said rings; a tool located insaid working plane to act on a workpiece transported by said abutmentroller and said rings; a first inner drive roll passing through saidrings and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter ofsaid rings; a movable support rotatably supporting said first drive rollfor movement with the axis thereof moving in a plane parallel to saidworking plane; a second outer drive roll adjacent said outer peripheralsurfaces of said rings and having an axis located between said workingplane and said plane of movement of said axis of said first drive roll,said drive rolls being both driven to rotate in opposite directions ofrotation; first biasing means operatively connected to said movablesupport for urging said first drive roll toward said second drive rollso that said first drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said ringsand urges the same against said second drive roll whereby said ringsrotate; and a plurality of second biasing means, each second biasingmeans including a spring-loader roller, said biasing rollers engaging,respectively, the outer peripheral surfaces of said rings forrespectively urging said rings toward said abutment roller and intoengagement with 1% said first and second drive rolls in a position inwhich said working plane is tangential to the outer peripheral surfacesof said rings whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and saidrings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding toirregularities of said workpiece.

15. A transporting and cutting arrangement comprising, in combination,an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheralsurfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting aworkpiece, said rings having a common axis; a work table for guiding aworkpiece in a working plane into the bight between said abutment rollerand said rings; a tool located in said working plane to act on aworkpiece transported by said abutment roller and said rings; a firstinner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diametersmaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a movable supportrot-atably supporting said first drive roll for movement with the axisthereof moving in a plane parallel to said working plane; a second outerdrive roll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, atleast one of said drive rolls being driven to rotate; first biasingmeans operatively connected to said movable support for urging saidfirst drive roll toward said second drive roll so that said first driveroll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges the same againstsaid second drive roll to engage the same along a first line ofengagement whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasingmeans engaging said rings along an axially extending second line ofengagement for respectively urging said rings toward said abutmentroller, a plane extending through said second line of engagement to saidcommon axis defining an obtuse angle with another plane extendingthrough the axis of said second drive roll to said common axis, thelines of engagement of said rings with a workpiece, second biasingmeans, and second drive roll defining an imaginary triangular prism inwhose area said common axis of said rings is located whereby a workpiecebetween said abutment roller and said rings is transported while eachring is capable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

15. A transporting and cutting arrangement comprising, in combination,an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheralsurfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting aworkpiece, and inner annular surfaces having central annular inwardlyprojecting smooth ridges, said rings having a common axis; a work tablefor guiding a workpiece in a working plane into the bight between saidabutment roller and said rings; a cutting tool located in said workingplane to act on a workpiece transported by said abutment roller and saidrings; a first inner drive roll passing through said rings and having anouter diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said rings, said firstdrive roll having a smooth outer surface adapted to frictionally engagesaid annular smooth ridges; a movable support rotatably supporting saidfirst drive roll for movement with the axis thereof moving in a planparallel to said working plane; a second outer drive roll adjacent saidouter peripheral surfaces of said rings, each of said drive rolls havingan elastic tubular cover on the outer periphery thereof, said driverolls being both driven to rotate in opposite directions of rotation;first biasing means operatively connected to said movable support forurging said first drive roll toward said second drive roll so that saidfirst drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings and urges thesame against said second drive roll to engage the same along a firstline of engagement whereby said rings rotate; and a plurality of secondbiasing means, each second biasing means including a spring-loadedbiasing roller, said biasing rollers engaging, respectively, the outerperipheral surfaces of said rings along an axially extending second lineof engagement for respectively urging said rings toward said abutmentroller, a plane extending through said second line of engagement to saidcommon axis defining an obtuse angle with another plane extendingthrough the axis of said second drive roll to said common axis, thelines of engagement of said rings with a workpiece, biasing rollers, andsecond drive roll defining an imaginary triangular prism in whose areasaid common axis of said rings is located whereby a workpiece betweensaid abutment roller and said rings is transported while each ring iscapable of yielding to irregularities of said workpiece.

17. A transporting and cutting arrangement, comprising, in combination,an abutment roller; a plurality of rings having outer peripheralsurfaces disposed opposite said abutment roller for transporting aworkpiece, said rings having a common axis; a work table for guiding aworkpiece in a working plane into the bight between said abutment rollerand said rings; a cutting tool located in said working plane to act on aworkpiece transported by said abutment roller and said rings; a driveroll adjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings and having anaxis; and a plurality of biasing means, each biasing means including aspring-loaded biasing roller, said biasing rollers en aging,respectively, the outer peripheral surfaces of said rings along anaxially extending line of engagement for respectively urging said ringstoward said abutment roller and against the workpiece and into rollingfrictional engagement with said drive roll, a plane extending throughsaid line of engagement to said common axis of said rings defining anobtuse angle with another plane extending through the axis of said driveroll to said common axis of said rings so that said biasing means urgesaid rings against said drive roll, the lines of engagement of saidrings with the workpiece, biasing rollers, and drive roll defining animaginary triangular prism in whose area said common axis of said ringsis located whereby a workpiece between said abutment roller and saidrings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding toirregularities of said workpiece.

18. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutmentmember; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposedopposite said abutment member for transporting a workpiece; a drive rollengaging said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings; first biasingmeans located within said rings and engaging only a small portion of theinner surfaces of said rings for urging said rings against said driveroll in one direction, while greater portions of said inner surfaces ofsaid rings are spaced from said biasing means; and second biasing meanslocated outside of said rings and engaging the outer peripheral surfacesof the same for urging said rings in another direction toward saidabutment member whereby a workpiece between said abutment member andsaid rings is transported while said rings are capable of yielding toirregularities of said workpiece in either of said directions.

19. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutmentmember; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposedopposite said abutment member for transporting a workpiece; a firstinner drive roll passing through said rings and having an outer diametersmaller than the inner diameter of said rings; a second outer drive rolladjacent said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings, at least one ofsaid drive rolls being driven to rotate; first biasing means for urgingone of said drive rolls toward the other of said drive rolls so thatsaid inner drive roll engages the inner surfaces of said rings wherebysaid rings rotate; and a plurality of second biasing means forrespectively urging said rings toward said abutment member whereby aworkpiece between said abutment member and said rings is transportedwhile each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of saidworkpiece.

20. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutmentmember; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposedopposite said abutment member for transporting the workpiece; a driveroll engaging said outer peripheral surfaces of said rings; firstbiasing means for urging said rings toward said drive roll whereby saidrings are rotated by said drive l roll; and'a plurality of secondbiasing means for respectively urging said rings toward said abutmentmember whereby a workpiece between said abutment member and said ringsis transported while each ring is capable of yielding to irregularitiesof said workpiece.

21. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutmentmember; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposedopposite said abutment member for transporting a workpiece and annularinner surfaces; an outer drive roll engaged by said outer peripheralsurfaces; an inner drive roll passing through said rings and having anouter surface with a diameter smaller than the inner diameters of saidrings; means for holding said outer surface of said inner drive roll indriving engagement with said inner surfaces of said rings whereby saidrings rotate; and a plurality of biasing means respectively engagingsaid rings for urging said rings toward said abutment member and saidouter drive roll whereby a workpiece between said abutment member andsaid rings is transported while each ring is capable of yielding toirregularities of the workpiece.

22. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutmentmember; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposedopposite said abutment member for transporting a workpiece and annularinner toothed surfaces; an outer drive roll engaged by said outerperipheral surfaces; an inner drive roll passing through said rings andhaving an outer toothed surface with a diameter smaller than the innerdiameters of said rings; means for holding said outer toothed surface ofsaid inner drive roll in meshing driving engagement with said innertoothed surfaces of said rings whereby said rings rotate; and aplurality of biasing means respectively engaging said rings for urgingsaid rings toward said abutment member and said outer drive roll wherebya workpiece between said abutment member and said rings is transportedwhile each ring is capable of yielding to irregularities of theworkpiece.

23. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutmentmember; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposedopposite said abutment member for transporting a workpiece and annularinner toothed surfaces, said rings having a common axis; an outer driveroll engaged by said outer peripheral surfaces; an inner drive rollpassing through said rings and having an outer toothed surface with adiameter smaller than the inner diameters of said rings; means forholding said outer toothed surface of said inner drive roll in meshingdrive engagement with said inner toothed surfaces of said rings wherebysaid rings rotate; and a plurality of biasing means respectivelyengaging said rings along an axially extending line of engagement forurging said rings toward said abutment member and said outer drive roll,a plane extending through said line of engagement to said common axisdefining an obtuse angle with another plane extending through the axisof said outer drive roll to said common axis whereby a workpiece betweensaid abutment member and said rings is transported while each ring iscapable of yielding to irregularities of the workpiece.

24. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 23 wherein saidouter drive roll engages said outer peripheral surfaces of said ringsalong a first line of engagement, wherein said toothed outer surface ofsaid inner drive roll engages said toothed inner surfaces of said ringsalong a second line of engagement; and wherein said first and secondlines of engagement are circumferentially spaced on said rings.

25. A transporting arrangement comprising, in combination, an abutmentmember; a plurality of rings having outer peripheral surfaces disposedopposite said abutment member for transporting a workpiece and annularinner toothed surfaces; an outer drive roll engaged by said outerperipheral surfaces; an inner drive roll passing through said rings andhaving an outer toothed surface with a diameter smaller than the innerdiameters of said rings; means for holding said outer toothed surface ofsaid inner drive roll in meshing driving engagement with said innertoothed surfaces of said rings whereby said rings rotate, and includingadjustable means for moving said inner drive roll toward and away fromsaid outer drive roll; and a plurality of biasing means respectivelyengaging said rings for urging said rings toward said abutment memberand said outer drive roll whereby a workpiece between said abutmentmember and said rings is transported while each ring is capable ofyielding to irregularities of the workpiece.

26. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 25 wherein saidtoothed inner and outer surfaces have a small circular pitch.

27. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 26 wherein thenumber of teeth of each of said outer toothed surface of said innerdrive roll is between 4 and 9 teeth smaller than the number of teeth oneach of said inner toothed surfaces of said rings.

28. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 26 wherein theprofiles of the teeth of said outer and inner toothed surfaces aredesigned in such a manner that said toothed surfaces remain in meshingengagement during small movements of each of said rings in a radialdirection relative to said inner drive roll.

29. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 28 wherein theprofile center of each tooth of said toothed inner surfaces of saidrings is outwardly displaced with respect to the pitch circle, andwherein the addendum thereof is reduced relative to the teeth of saidouter toothed surface of said inner drive roll.

30. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 26 wherein saidadjustable means hold said inner drive roll in such a position, andwherein the teeth of said outer and inner toothed surfaces are designedand constructed in such a manner that at least one tooth of said outertoothed surface of said drive roll is located between two adjacent teethof said toothed inner surfaces of said rings without touching the same,while the teeth on both sides of said one tooth are in meshing contactwith corresponding teeth of said toothed inner surfaces.

31. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 26 wherein theteeth of said inner and outer toothed surfaces are designed andconstructed in such a manner that said teeth remain in meshingengagement upon a displacement of one of said rings by the workpiece fora distance corresponding to half of the depth of the teeth.

32. A transporting arrangement as set forth in claim 26 wherein thecircular pitch of the teeth of said outer toothed surface of said innerdrive roll is smaller than the circular pitch of the teeth of said innertoothed surfaces of said rings.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 619,477 2/99 Hall6910 2,803,126 8/57 Meyer 6910 FOREIGN PATENTS 3 18,5 79 1/20 Germany.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

1. A TRANSPORTING ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN ABUTMENTROLLER; A PLURALITY OF RINGS HAVING OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACES DISPOSEDOPPOSITE SAID ABUTMENT ROLLER FOR TRANSPORTING A WORKPIECE; A FIRSTINNER DRIVE ROLL PASSING THROUGH SAID RINGS AND HAVING AN OUTER DIAMETERSMALLER THAN THE INNER DIAMETER OF SAID RINGS; A SECOND OUTER DRIVE ROLLADJACENT SAID OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACES OF SAID RINGS, AT LEAST ONE OFSAID DRIVE ROLLS BEING DRIVEN TO ROTATE; FIRST BIASING MEANS FOR URGINGSAID FIRST DRIVE ROLL TOWARD SAID SECOND DRIVE ROLL SO THAT SAID FIRSTDRIVE ROLL ENGAGES THE INNERSURFACES OF SAID RINGS AND URGES THE SAMEAGAINST SAID SECOND DRIVE ROLL WHEREBY SAID RINGS ROTATE; AND APLURALITY OF SECOND BIASING MEANS FOR RESPECTIVELY URGING SAID RINGSTOWARD SAID ABUTMENT ROLLER WHEREBY A WORKPIECE BETWEEN SAID ABUTMENTROLLER AND SAID RINGS IS TRANSPORTED WHILE EACH RING IS CAPABLE OFYIELDING TO IRREGULARITIES OF SAID WORKPIECE.